After more than 15 years of marriage, Penélope Cruz says one of the biggest lessons she’s learned is that truly knowing another person is an ongoing journey.

While promoting her upcoming film The Invite, the Oscar-winning actress reflected on her relationship with fellow actor Javier Bardem, explaining that even after decades together, they continue to discover new things about one another.

“I’m Still Learning”

Speaking during a recent interview, Cruz shared that long-term relationships are constantly evolving because people themselves never stop changing.

“I feel like I’m still learning,” Cruz said. “And I am with somebody that I’ve known for 33 years.”

She added that just as people continue learning about themselves throughout life, the same applies to their partners.

“I really know that person, but it’s like, is there a day where you really get to know yourself? No. So the same with your partner.”

Her comments came while discussing The Invite, a comedy that explores the dynamics between couples during an eventful dinner party.

A Love Story Decades in the Making

Cruz and Bardem first met in 1992 while filming the Spanish movie Jamón Jamón. Although they shared an undeniable chemistry on set, neither pursued a romantic relationship at the time.

Years later, they reunited while filming Vicky Cristina Barcelona in 2008, where their friendship finally turned into romance.

Bardem has previously revealed that both were hesitant to make the first move during filming until the movie wrapped.

According to the actor, it wasn’t until the cast celebrated at a wrap party that their relationship officially began.

Building a Relationship Before Fame

Bardem has credited the strength of their marriage to the fact that they knew each other long before international fame changed their lives.

He has said their relationship is built on seeing each other as they truly are, rather than through the lens of celebrity.

That foundation, he believes, has helped them navigate both their personal lives and successful Hollywood careers.

A Private Family Life

The couple married in a private ceremony in the Bahamas in July 2010 and have remained one of Hollywood’s most private celebrity couples ever since.

Together, they share two children—a son, Leo, born in 2011, and a daughter, Luna, born in 2013.

Despite rarely discussing their marriage publicly, Cruz’s latest comments offer a rare glimpse into the mindset that has helped sustain their relationship for more than three decades of knowing one another and over 15 years as husband and wife.

For Cruz, the secret isn’t believing you’ve figured everything out—it’s accepting that love, like people, continues to grow and evolve.